Public holidays in Norway

Twelve are set in law: ten in the Public Holidays Act of 1995 and two, 1 and 17 May, in the act of 1947. Easter Sunday and Whit Sunday always fall on a Sunday. In 2026 eight holidays land on a weekday, with 17 May on a Sunday and 26 December on a Saturday. In 2027 the figure drops to six, because 1 May and 25 December are Saturdays, 26 December is a Sunday and 17 May coincides with Whit Monday.

Yes. The act of 1947 makes 1 and 17 May high days, treated as Sundays. An employee hired for at least the previous 30 days is paid in full for either day when it does not fall on a Sunday or another holiday. Anyone who works gets the Sunday supplement set by agreement, and at least 50% extra where no agreement settles it. In 2026 the day is a Sunday; in 2027 a Monday.

The two holidays share the date and give one day off between them. That is the case on Monday 17 May 2027, which closes a three-day weekend starting on Saturday 15 May, with Whit Sunday in the middle. No law adds a replacement day.

Yes. The Public Holidays Act lists skjærtorsdag, the last Thursday before Easter Sunday, beside Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. That makes Easter a five-day break: Thursday 2 April to Monday 6 April in 2026 and Thursday 25 March to Monday 29 March in 2027. The evening before Easter Sunday is not itself a holiday, but the law's holiday peace starts at 16:00 on it, and shops close at the same hour.

Mostly not. The Public Holidays Act closes shops that sell to consumers on every holiday, and the act of 1947 applies the same rule to 1 and 17 May. Small grocery shops of up to 100 square metres, petrol stations of up to 150, flower and garden shops, cafés and restaurants and shops in approved tourist areas are exempt. The ordinary shops may open on the last three Sundays before Christmas Eve, from 14:00 to 20:00.

Not in law. Neither Christmas Eve nor New Year's Eve appears in either act, so both are working days, though private employers commonly give staff the afternoon off from noon. From 16:00 on Christmas Eve the holiday peace of the 1995 act applies, as it does on Easter Eve and Whitsun Eve, and shops have to close at that hour.

Easter gives five days, Thursday 2 April to Monday 6 April. Labour Day on Friday 1 May makes a three-day weekend, Whitsun runs from Saturday 23 May to Monday 25 May, and Christmas Day on a Friday starts three days off ending on Sunday 27 December. Two more need a single day of leave: Friday 2 January after New Year's Day, and Friday 15 May after Ascension Day, which gives four days in a row.

Because neither holiday act lists it. Liberation Day marks the end of the German occupation on 8 May 1945 and is an official flag day, but offices, schools and shops keep their usual hours. The same is true of 7 June, the date in 1905 when the union with Sweden was dissolved.